Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for 19 March.

Notes:
* indicates a question for oral answer.
[R] indicates that the Member has declared a relevant interest.
Questions for oral answer not reached receive a written answer.
Supplementary questions will also be asked. Other Ministers may also answer.

+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.

At 2.30 p.m. Prayers

Afterwards

Private Business

Note: Private business is not debated at this time, and may not be proceeded with if opposed.

Second Reading

Mersey Tunnels Bill. (By Order.)

Mr Ben ChapmanStephen HesfordMr Robert N. Wareing

On Second Reading of the Mersey Tunnels Bill, to move, That the Bill be read a second time upon this day six months.

Afterwards

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

*1

Jim Sheridan (West Renfrewshire): How many pensioners in Scotland will benefit from the increases in the minimum income guarantee in April.

(
41515
)

*2

Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): What steps she will be taking to promote Scotland's interests in the Future of Europe debate.

(
41516
)

*3

Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West): How many pensioners in Scotland will benefit from the increases in the basic state pension in April.

(
41517
)

*4

Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): What recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive on how the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan will affect Scotland.

(
41514
)

*5

Mr Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute): What discussions she has had with the Scottish First Minister regarding the prevention of illegal meat imports.

(
41518
)

*6

Ann McKechin (Glasgow, Maryhill): What joint activities she is planning with the First Minister to intensify the campaign against drugs.

(
41519
)

*7

Mr John McFall (Dumbarton): What recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the role within the Scottish economy of the life assurance industry.

(
41520
)

*8

Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): If she will make a statement on the progress of her consultations on the size of the Scottish Parliament.

(
41521
)

*9

Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): When she last met the Scottish Minister responsible for Social Services to discuss Government measures to alleviate poverty in Scotland.

(
41522
)

*10

Mr Michael Weir (Angus): What representations she has received from the aggregates industry concerning the introduction of the aggregates levy in Scotland.

(
41523
)

*11

John Barrett (Edinburgh West): How many people in Scotland have claimed the winter fuel allowance for the 2001-02 winter.

(
41524
)

*12

John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): What steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of the report of the Clyde Shipbuilding Task Force.

(
41525
)

*13

Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): How many pensioners in Scotland are benefiting from the winter fuel payment scheme.

(
41526
)

*14

Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): When she last met the First Minister to discuss the operation of the electoral system for the Scottish Parliament.

(
41527
)

*15

Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): What recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive on cross-border road links, with special reference to the A1.

(
41528
)

*16

Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): What recent representations she has received from the British Aggregates Association on economic problems in the industry.

(
41529
)

*17

Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): If she will make a statement about recent discussions with Scotland's farming industry about foot and mouth.

(
41530
)

*18

Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): What discussions she has had with agriculture ministers from the Scottish Parliament on policy on foot and mouth.

(
41531
)

*19

Mr John Baron (Billericay): When she intends to meet health ministers from the United Kingdom Government and the devolved administrations to discuss NHS waiting lists.

(
41532
)

*20

Pete Wishart (North Tayside): If she will assess the impact of UK Government policies on the tourism industry in Scotland.

(
41533
)

*21

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): What consultations she has had with Scottish Executive ministers and European Union officials to discuss the possibility of a public inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreaks in Scotland.

(
41534
)

*22

Mr John MacDougall (Central Fife): How many people in Scotland are benefiting from the working families tax credit.

(
41535
)

*23

Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East): What discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive about the calculation of the Barnett Formula.

(
41536
)

*24

Angela Watkinson (Upminster): What consultations she has had with Scottish Executive ministers and European Union officials on a public inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreaks in Scotland.

(
41537
)

*25

Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): What discussions she has had with the First Minister and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the European Capital of Culture Competition 2008.

(
41538
)

At 2.55 p.m.

Oral Questions to the Advocate General for Scotland

*26

Annabelle Ewing (Perth): What devolution issues have been raised since 12th February under the Scotland Act 1998.

(
41539
)

*27

Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): What devolution issues have been raised in the last month under the Scotland Act 1998.

(
41540
)

*28

Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine): How many cases she has been asked to pursue by the Inland Revenue; and how many she has pursued.

(
41541
)

*29

Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): What devolution issues have been raised since 12th February under the Scotland Act 1998.

(
41542
)

*30

Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland): What steps she has taken to promote better value for money in the execution of her duties at her Department.

Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): How many serving lay magistrates there were in (a) 1979, (b) 1987 and (c) 2001; and how many are expected to be serving in 2003.

(
41544
)

*32

Dr Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West): If he will review the provisions of the Witness Allowance Act to ensure that those appearing as witnesses are not out of pocket.

(
41545
)

*33

Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): If he will make a statement on progress with the OFT report with reference to the Queen's Counsel system.

(
41546
)

*34

Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): What initiatives are being pursued to improve the rate of recruitment of judges to the High Court bench; and if he will make a statement.

(
41547
)

*35

Vera Baird (Redcar): Whether the Lord Chancellor intends to continue sitting as a judge; and if he will make a statement.

(
41548
)

*36

Ian Lucas (Wrexham): If he will make a statement on how judges and magistrates are trained in the comparative efficacy of criminal sentencing.

(
41550
)

*37

Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): If he will make a statement on the progress of the Court of Protection pilot scheme in Preston.

(
41551
)

*38

Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): What assessment he has made of the impact of the European Court of Human Rights in requiring changes in the facilities of United Kingdom magistrates' courts.

(
41552
)

*39

Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): If he will make a statement on the future of Evesham Magistrates' Court.

(
41554
)

*40

Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): What recent discussions he has had with the Central Council of the Magistrates' Courts Committees concerning the Auld Report; and if he will make a statement.

(
41555
)

*41

Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): If he will make a statement on the enforcement of maintenance agreements made by Scottish courts in English courts.

(
41556
)

*42

Mr David Amess (Southend West): What his policy is on payment of fees by the Legal Aid Board to members of the legal profession; and if he will make a statement.

(
41557
)

*43

Mrs Lorna Fitzsimons (Rochdale): What role community legal services partnerships play in combatting social exclusion.

(
42355
)

At 3.15 p.m.

Oral Questions to the President of the Council

*44

Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): What recent discussions he has had on reform of the House of Lords.

(
41558
)

*45

Vera Baird (Redcar): What plans he has to pursue the reform of select committees.

(
41559
)

*46

David Cairns (Greenock & Inverclyde): What plans he has for implementing reform of the select committee system.

(
41560
)

*47

Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): What assessment he has made of the implications for legislative scrutiny of the experimental arrangements for programming of legislation.

(
41561
)

*48

Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): If he will consult the voluntary, business and trade union sectors on proposals to modernise the House of Commons.

(
41562
)

*49

Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): If he will consult Right honourable and honourable Members on the need for reform of conventions in the House.

(
41563
)

*50

Mr Chris Bryant (Rhondda): If he will make a statement on responses received to the Government's public consultation on reform of the House of Lords.

(
41564
)

*51

Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): How many private Members' bills introduced by (a) Government backbenchers and (b) Opposition honourable Members have been enacted in each of the last 10 years; and what proposals he has to give greater opportunity for backbench legislative initiatives to become law.

(
41566
)

*52

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): If he will make a statement on progress on Lords reform.

(
41567
)

*53

Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): What consideration he has given to improving the links between young people and Parliament in his proposals for modernisation of the House.

(
41569
)

*54

Mr George Osborne (Tatton): How many recent representations he has received calling for a wholly or substantially elected House of Lords.

(
41570
)

*55

Margaret Moran (Luton South): What plans he has to use electronic means of consultation on his proposals for reform of the House of Commons.

(
41571
)

*56

Joyce Quin (Gateshead East & Washington West): If he will make a statement on the response to the Government's White Paper on House of Lords reform.

(
41572
)

*57

Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): What recent representations he has received on the alteration of timing of questions to the Prime Minister.

(
41573
)

At 3.30 p.m.

Private Notice Questions (if any)Ministerial Statements (if any)

Preliminary Business

Ten minute rule Motion

1

AGE DISCRIMINATION [Up to 20 minutes]

Mr Paul Burstow

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make it unlawful to discriminate against persons on grounds of age in connection with employment or the provision of goods; to establish an Age Equality Commission with the function of working towards the elimination of such discrimination and promoting age equality generally; and for connected purposes.

The Member moving and a Member opposing this Motion may each speak for up to ten minutes (Standing Order No. 23).

That this House notes the mounting crisis in education; regrets that unauthorised absences from secondary schools are rising, and that examination standards in mathematics fell last year among 11-year-olds; further notes that morale among teachers has fallen so low that three teaching unions are currently engaged in industrial action, including an unprecedented ballot on industrial action among head teachers; regrets the early departure from the teaching profession of so many qualified teachers; notes that teachers themselves blame the excessive workload caused by Government interference for many of these early departures; condemns the Government for its lack of support for teachers seeking to cope with disciplinary problems in schools; asks the Government to explain fully the precipitate ending of Education Action Zones; calls on the Government to restore confidence in the examination board system after the various fiascos faced by Edexcel; notes that morale among university teachers and students is also low because of funding problems; further condemns the way decent training providers, including FE colleges, were let down by the failure of Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs); and calls on the Government to make an immediate announcement about how it intends to help those affected by the ILA collapse, and what scheme it proposes to replace ILAs.

Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add, `congratulates the staff and management of schools, colleges, universities and other educational establishments on achieving internationally recognised standards of excellence on behalf of their students despite the failure of government to provide adequate financial support; notes the mounting disillusionment in all sectors of education but in particular the deterioration in morale amongst heads and teachers resulting in the current industrial action; regrets the early departure from the teaching profession of 70,000 teachers during the past six years and notes the failure of the Government to produce any substantive plans to encourage them to return to the classroom; further notes that the main reason for teachers leaving the profession is excessive workload and targets and initiatives imposed by successive Governments; condemns the continued failure of the Government to take note of the Cubie and Rees Commissions in Scotland and Wales that have resulted in the Liberal Democrat/Labour joint administrations in both countries restoring student maintenance grants and abolishing tuition fees in Scotland; further condemns the failure of Government to address the nation's massive skill shortage and calls on it to introduce immediately a successor scheme for Individual Learning Accounts with appropriate safeguards to combat fraud; and further condemns the complete failure of the Conservative Opposition to offer a credible alternative to the current crisis in education.'.

Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `recognises an education system which is benefiting from an unprecedented period of sustained investment on an unprecedented scale, in parallel with the Government's strategy to raise standards through an ambitious series of reforms of the curriculum, the teaching profession and the organisation of schools; welcomes Ofsted's latest annual report showing the highest ever proportion of good and excellent lessons in schools, and the OECD's PISA Report that the UK performance was above the OECD average across all three domains of reading, mathematical and scientific literacy; notes the other tangible signs of increased investment and reform such as higher academic standards at primary and secondary level, the dramatic reduction in the numbers of infants in large classes, more teachers in schools than at any time in the last decade, extra resources and more people than ever going into Higher Education, with 45,000 new places since 1997; notes further the huge increase in the number of adults who are now acquiring basic skills and learning for their futures; recognises the clear commitment of the Government to address teacher workload in partnership with the unions and other agencies; welcomes the positive proposals the Government has given to headteachers on school exclusions, reinforcing their right to manage their schools and enforce discipline as they see fit; recognises that working closely with parents, police and health professionals is key to tackling unacceptable levels of absence and supports the Government's work in this area; and supports the measures being taken by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to ensure that examination results are delivered successfully.'.

That this House notes the House of Lords Select Committee Report on Chinook ZD 576, which concludes that `the Air Marshals were not justified in finding that negligence on the part of the pilots of ZD 576 caused the crash' in the Mull of Kintyre on 2nd June 1994; and calls on the Government to exonerate the deceased pilots, flight lieutenants Jonathan Tapper and Richard Cook.

Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `notes the House of Lords Select Committee Report on Chinook ZD 576; further notes that the Government is currently studying the report; and looks forward to the Government's promised full and detailed response to the House of Lords.'.

The selection of the matters to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Opposition (Standing Order No. 14(2)).

Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.

+ 3

AIRCRAFT NOISE [No debate]

Mr David Jamieson

That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 15014/01, draft Directive on the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Community Airports and No 5119/02, draft Directive on the establishment of a Community framework for noise classification of civil subsonic aircraft for the purposes of calculating noise charges; and supports the Government position to ensure that the proposed Directives allow the development of a coherent and balanced approach to managing noise nuisances at UK airports consistent with existing ICAO rules and standards.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 119(9)).

+ 4

ENLARGEMENT [No debate]

Mr Peter Hain

That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 14117/01, the Commission Strategy paper and Report on the progress towards accession by each of the candidate countries with Addenda 1 to 13, the 2001 Regular Reports on progress by individual candidate countries, No. 5745/02, the Commission Communication on a Common Financial Framework 2004-2006 for the Accession Negotiations and No. 5638/02, the Commission Communication on Enlargement and Agriculture: successfully integrating the new Member States into the CAP; welcomes the Government's continuing commitment to EU enlargement, and supports the Government's aim to complete negotiations with those candidates that are ready by the end of this year, so that they can participate in the European Parliament elections in 2004 as Member States.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 119(9)).

+ 5

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE [No debate]

Mr Secretary Blunkett

That the Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 95) (HC 670), on 2001-02 Special Grant for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children, which was laid before this House on 6th March, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

+ 6

COMPANIES [No debate]

Ms Secretary Hewitt

That the Companies (Competent Authority) (Fees) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 502), dated 7th March 2002, a copy of which was laid before this House on 7th March, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

+ 7

COMPANIES [No debate]

Ms Secretary Hewitt

That the draft Companies (Particulars of Usual Residential Address) (Confidentiality Orders) Regulations 2002, which were laid before this House on 7th March, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

+ 8

PARTNERSHIP [No debate]

Ms Secretary Hewitt

That the Limited Liability Partnership (Competent Authority) (Fees) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 503), dated 7th March 2002, a copy of which was laid before this House on 7th March, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

+ 9

PARTNERSHIP [No debate]

Ms Secretary Hewitt

That the draft Limited Liability Partnerships (No. 2) Regulations 2002, which were laid before this House on 7th March, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

+ 10

PARTNERSHIP [No debate]

Ms Secretary Hewitt

That the draft Limited Liability Partnerships (Particulars of Usual Residential Address) (Confidentiality Orders) Regulations 2002, which were laid before this House on 7th March, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

+ 11

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.]

Mr Robin Cook

That, on Tuesday 26th March

(1) the provisions of the Orders of 20th November 2000 relating to Thursday sittings and meetings of Standing Committees shall apply as if that day were a Thursday; and

(2) there shall be no sitting in Westminster Hall.

If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m..

At the end of the sitting

12

ADJOURNMENT

Proposed subject: Deaths at Work (Tony Baldry).

Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9.).

JOINT COMMITTEE

[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

Written Questions tabled on Monday 18th March for answer today++

1

Ms Claire Ward (Watford): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he will publish HM Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate's report of its programme of visits to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service during 2001.

(
44805
)

2

Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what key performance measures and targets the Lord Chancellor has set for the Public Guardianship Office Executive Agency for 2002-03.

(
44806
)

3

Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will lay before Parliament the 11th annual report of the Firearms Consultative Committee.

(
44999
)

4

Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what responses have been received to `Policing a New Century'.

(
45000
)

5

Derek Twigg (Halton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what targets she has set the Patent Office, for 2002-03.

(
45051
)

6

Geraint Davies (Croydon Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he proposes to announce the outcome of Stage One of the Review of English Partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

(
45052
)

7

Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough & Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he will announce the 2002 Housing Transfer Programme.

(
45053
)

8

Mr Martin Salter (Reading West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what new recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste for 2002 have been decided; and if she will make a statement.

(
45054
)

9

Mrs Jackie Lawrence (Preseli, Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the result of the electronic tendering service pilot.